John McCain on Foreign Policy

Overthrow “rogue” governments to keep Americans safe

Q: What area of international policy would you change immediately? A: Our policies concerning rogue states: Iraq, Libya, North Korea-those countries that continue to try to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means
to deliver them. I’d institute a policy that I call “rogue state rollback.” I would arm, train, equip, both from without and from within, forces that would eventually overthrow the governments and install free and democratically elected governments.

Source: GOP Debate on the Larry King Show
Feb 15, 2000

Our conscience influences US intervention, as in Rwanda

Q: Would you intervene militarily if human rights abuses were at stake?A: There are times when our principles are so offended that we have to do what we can to resolve a terrible situation. If Rwanda again became a scene of horrible genocide, if there
was a way that the US could stop. But we can never say that a nation driven by Judeo-Christian principles will only intervene where our interests are threatened because we also have values. If genocide is allowed, the consequences later are more severe.

Source: GOP Debate on the Larry King Show
Feb 15, 2000

Africa: Money for AIDS would be lost to corruption

Q: Should we appropriate $300 million out of the surplus to help fight AIDS in Africa? A: I would do anything in my power to stop this terrible affliction. But we have corrupt governments; we have organizations that don’t treat the people. So before
I spent our taxpayers’ money on that, I would have to make sure that it would go to the recipients and those of these poor people who are afflicted with this terrible disease. Frankly, in a lot of parts of Africa today, I do not have that confidence.

Source: GOP Debate in Michigan
Jan 10, 2000

Concern over Chechnya spreads to Caucasus oil reserves

McCAIN [to Forbes]: I want to talk to you about Russia. We’re concerned about Chechnya. We’re concerned about the Caucasus and Georgia and the oil and gas reserves that are there, and I’m particularly interested in your views of Mr. Putin and what we
can expect and how you would handle our relations with Russia at this particular moment.

FORBES: I think that our relations with Russia today are another prime example of the lack of a foreign policy of the Clinton-Gore Administration.
The way they’re applauding this coup that just took place with the thieving oligarchs of the Kremlin, told Yeltsin get out and we’ll let your family keep their illegal gains, and this way we can move the election up. Have the war fever from Chechnya.
The war in Chechnya is simply an election ploy. It’s also, I fear, part of the first step of the old Russian nationalist of reestablishing the old Soviet empire. Chechnya today, perhaps Georgia tomorrow, Armenia after that. It’s a disaster.

Source: Republican Debate in West Columbia, SC
Jan 7, 2000

Russia: Sanctions until Putin exits Chechnya

McCain says acting Russian President Vladimir Putin should be urged to end the conflict with Chechen militants under threat of sanctions, as issue he would talk about “every day” as president. “I’d state unequivocally that there would be no more US
Export-Import Bank loans, that the US would not support any furhter IMF funding until this thing is brought to some kind of reasonable conclusion,” he said.

IMF’s Russia policies bad, but agency is OK

A spokesman for John McCain saif the Senator “generally would not call” for eliminating the IMF but has criticized the agency’s work in Russia, where there are accusations that IMF loans were misused and that the government misled the IMF about its
finances.

Source: Boston Globe, p. A14
Oct 5, 1999

Urge Japan to open economy to ensure Asian recovery

Asia’s economic recovery will not be sustained over time, and its markets will not recover their former profitability for American goods and services, unless the greatest economy of Asia - Japan’s - is freed from the market distorting restraints that are
inherent in its unique political economy. If it is to thrive once again, Japan must commit to systemic reforms that are politically difficult for powerful constituencies, among them, Japanese farmers and banks.

Source: Speech to National Press Club, 5/20/99
May 20, 1999

Clinton abandoned framework of “assertive multilateralism”

A conceptual framework establishes the relationships among our many interests in the world, provides the basis for prioritizing those interests, and obliges us to integrate policies to serve those priorities. Early on, Clinton [supported] a conceptual
framework: “assertive multilateralism.” But it fell apart in Somalia & Bosnia, and assertive gave way to passive multilateralism, where we act in concert with other nations when they determine it necessary to safeguard their security.

Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Position Papers” 4/30/99
Apr 30, 1999

Korea: ease starvation, but avoid war during death throes

[Five years ago,] the US promised North Korea food and energy support, [plus] nuclear reactors, in exchange for the cessation of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. A firmer response might have triggered a war; refusing to help ease the deprivations
in the North, and hastening the collapse of the regime might have also resulted in war. North Korea is still inexorably nearing total collapse, and its leaders remain quite capable of launching in their country’s death throes one final, glorious war.

Source: www.mccain2000.com/ “Position Papers” 4/30/99
Apr 30, 1999

Pay dues to UN after UN reforms

Regarding the United States-United Nations relationship, McCain says the “US should pay arrears to UN after the UN implements management reforms.”

Source: Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org
Jul 2, 1998

Cuba: No diplomatic and trade relations

McCain believes that the US should not have diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba.